Tag Archives: my ipod

My iPod #243: Modest Mouse – Dashboard

Leave a reply

Sorry, the post is a bit late. Had some work to do, you know.

I had never listened through song fully by Modest Mouse before “Dashboard” appeared on the TV seven years ago. The last few seconds of “Float On” were the only thing I had witnessed when I changed the channel onto MTV2 one time, but unsurprisingly those seconds didn’t last long in memory.

The video for “Dashboard” was regularly advertised, being shown as the ‘brand new single’ from the band’s then forthcoming album “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank”. It was their first album in three years, and Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths, had recently joined the band’s lineup so interest was high. I say this like I know; I only assume, I was twelve at the time.

Dashboard is about taking the positive aspects from a less than satisfactory car journey. Or a car accident. Maybe more the latter. The dashboard melted, but hey look on the bright side…. they still had the radio. Even with the positive message, the song itself is not bright and happy melodically. There’s something about those strings after the first chorus that reminds me of being on the sea during a thunderstorm. Like a pirate sort of thing. But maybe that’s because of its music video.

The video is funny too. Apparently Seasick Steve is the barman who has the guitar fretboard for a leg at the end (you’ll need to see it to understand)…. but I swear it looks nothing like him.

My iPod #242: Franz Ferdinand – Darts of Pleasure

1 Reply

This is no mistake. I have no song by another artist between this one and yesterday’s, so here’s Franz Ferdinand again. This time with “Darts of Pleasure”, another track from their debut album. It was actually their first single, months before anyone would know about “Take Me Out”, and just missed out on a Top 40 place reaching #44 in the UK singles chart. The song itself is about the use of words to seduce somebody. The words are the darts of pleasure.

I can’t exactly remember when I first saw the video for “Darts”, but I have a feeling that the other singles from the album had already been released before I saw it on MTV2. It seems to be on a low budget compared to their later videos which is standard as it was their first single. In it, the viewer sees life from the point of view of Alex Kapranos’ mouth where various antics occur. It’s funny or icky depending on how you look at it.

The best part is definitely the coda with the German lyrics during the final minute, why the band chose to use it we’ll never know but I’m not complaining.

My iPod #241: Franz Ferdinand – The Dark of the Matinée

1 Reply
 

“The Dark of the Matinée” was the second single from Franz Ferdinand’s debut album, released in February 2004.

According to Kapranos, or what I could make from him before he introduced this song at a festival, the track is about skiving off school and hiding away in the shadows of the matinée. Every music channel showed the song as simply “Matinée” which is (I’m guressing) what everybody generally calls it. Maybe even some Franz Ferdinand fans if they’re too occupied to say the full title. Either way it is the same song, but it is the darkness of the matinée which is being specified that is being established as the hiding place, and not just the building itself.

Whatever.

It is remarkable to think it has been ten years since I first heard this. This was one of my favourite songs at the time. I thought the video made the song even better. The ‘robotic’ choreography, Alex Kapranos’ fringe and the huge painting of Terry Wogan during the final verse. I had daydreams of being in a band and making a video like it. I wanted Looking at it now makes me want to that eight years old who would wake up early in the morning to watch MTV2, actually watch music videos and discover bands for the first time all over again.

It wasn’t as successful as “Take Me Out”, which I’ll get on to ages from now, but to me it certainly brings back some good memories.

My iPod #240: They Might Be Giants – Dark and Metric

Leave a reply

“Dark and Metric” is a track from the album “Long Tall Weekend” by They Might Be Giants.

Again, I’m left with little to say about this one. If only I actually knew more about music like modes, and steps etc. etc. I would be able to tell you a lot more. But there’s something about the way it sounds that didn’t feel right when I first listened to it. There’s no phasing, panning or any special effects, just the vocal, keyboard and the rhythm section which are then joined by a slide guitar nearing the end. It leaves the song sounding a bit empty, and quite uneasy. It grew on me eventually.

The melody’s perky but matched with lyrics about living in a town where nothing happens; the narrator puts on a brave face but inside knows that they will become miserable at some point.

See ya.

My iPod #239: Arctic Monkeys – Dangerous Animals

Leave a reply

So…… “Humbug”, the album where Arctic Monkeys started to change. Or at least embarked on a different direction in terms of sound. The majority of band members grew their hair longer, the recording process took place in California and was overlooked by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, all of which contributed to the moodiest* ten songs that the group have released.

It was 2009, and the Monkeys hadn’t released an album for two years. “Crying Lightning” came out as the first single; many people were impressed. I didn’t like it that much on first listen but it has grown on me since. Nevertheless, The Monkeys were back.

The album was released, and I thought I might as well hear it. It’s a new Arctic Monkeys album, you know? I downloaded the individual songs, listened to the whole thing throughout, and didn’t think a lot if it… but “Dangerous Animals” though. That got me.

“Dangerous Animals” is the third track, coming after “Crying Lightning”. Straight up, it is a song about sex. If you look at the lyrics, and the title you’ll probably understand why eventually.

It is a great track though. The stomping of the drums, the catchy guitar hook that never ceases and repeats until it’s embedded in your brain…. The title being spelt out during the chorus. Ah, man. It’s the only one from “Humbug” I have on my iPod. Just because it sounded like something that could have been on “FWN”.

A cool track on an alright album.

*Not moody as in depressing, but moody as in it covers a whole range of moods. If you get what I’m trying to say.